Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of non-advised pension savers used a face-to-face or telephone appointment with the Pension Wise guidance service when accessing their pension benefits in each of the last four years since its introduction.
Below are the number of people who have sought guidance from Pension Wise year on year. As well as face-to-face and telephone appointments, since 2017 Pension Wise have also provided digital appointments. Information on the proportions of non-advised pension savers accessing their pension is not available. Over 50s with Defined Contribution pensions are eligible for guidance appointments with Pension Wise. Some of these customers may go on to seek independent financial advice.
| Face to Face | Telephone | Digital | Total |
2015/16 | 40,989 | 19,950 | NA | 60,939 |
2016/17 | 48,413 | 17,761 | NA | 66,174 |
2017/18 | 63,185 | 24,289 | 34677 | 122,151 |
2018/19 | 90,448 | 39,667 | 37,611 | 167,726 |